Pep Guardiola cut a frustrated figure after Manchester City’s European campaign came to an end with a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, admitting there is mounting scrutiny over his position following the result at the Etihad Stadium.
City were already facing an uphill task after a heavy first-leg defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where a hat-trick from Federico Valverde had left them trailing significantly on aggregate.
Any hopes of a comeback were dealt an early blow on Tuesday when captain Bernardo Silva was dismissed inside the opening 20 minutes for handling a goal-bound effort from Vinícius Júnior.
Reduced to 10 men for much of the contest, City struggled to impose themselves against the experienced Spanish side.
Vinícius capitalised with a decisive double that ensured Madrid progressed comfortably, reinforcing their reputation as Europe’s most successful club in the competition.
After the match, Guardiola pointed to the red card as a defining moment, suggesting it robbed his side of the opportunity to properly challenge their opponents.
He felt the incident altered the rhythm and balance of the tie, leaving his team chasing a game that had already tilted heavily in Madrid’s favour.
Also, attention quickly turned to Guardiola’s future, with his current deal entering its final year and speculation growing about whether he will remain beyond this season.
The City manager did little to dampen the discussion, offering a candid assessment of the pressure surrounding his role.
“Everybody wants to fire me,” Guardiola said when questioned about his future following the 2-1 loss at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. “One day I will come out here and say ‘bye, bye guys’.”
It was a striking remark from a manager who has delivered sustained domestic success since arriving in 2016, yet continues to face scrutiny over European performances. Despite guiding Manchester City to numerous trophies, expectations remain particularly high in the Champions League.
Guardiola has often referenced the terms of his contract when addressing such questions, but uncertainty persists. While he has not indicated any immediate decision, his comments hinted at an awareness of the ongoing debate about his tenure.
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His time in Manchester already represents the longest spell of his managerial career, surpassing his previous stints at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
During those periods, he saw out his contracts without leaving early, a pattern that has led some to believe he could do the same again at City.
When pressed further, Guardiola maintained a broader perspective about his long-term connection to the club.
“When I’ve retired in 10 years I will always be City. In the Champions League, I will say I will be back because I am part of them.”
“The future will be bright and next season we will be back,” he said following the 5-1 aggregate loss in the round-of-16 tie.
